Loading device for spherical objects

ABSTRACT

A loading device for loading spherical air rifle shot into the magazine of an air rifle includes an inlet chamber having a central passage and a plurality of radially positioned channels whose bottoms are axially staggered. The channel bottoms slope to the central passage which in turn delivers the shot to the discharge passage. In the inlet chamber and along the longitudinal axis of the device a cone shaped member is positioned so as to deflect the shots into the channels.

United States Patent [191 Strand [1!] 3,831,574 Aug. 27, 1974 LQADHVG DEVICE FOR SPHERICAL OEC'IS Inventor: Leif W. Strand, Rt. 1, Walworth,

Wis. 53184 Filed: Jan. 24, 1973 Appl. No.: 326,226

US. C1 124/49, 221/118, 221/311 lint. Cl. F41c 25/00 Field 011 Search 124/49, 50, 45; 221/118,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1934 Narrow .1 124/45 UX 2/1948 Young et a1. 221/118 8/1966 Bauer et al. 124/45 3,527,383 9/1970 Borsum et a1 221/112 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Henry C. Fuller, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A loading device for loading spherical air rifle shot into the magazine of an air rifle includes an inlet chamber having a central passage and a plurality of ra- 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures I LOADING DEVICE FOR SPHERICAL OBJECTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In transferring bulk spherical objects such as shot into a single file array with a conventional funnel employing a converging wall which merges with a stem having a small diameter outlet, the spherical objects or shot cluster at the opening between the stem and the converging wall and prevent flow through the stem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a loading device for handling bulk shot and arranging the shot in single file rows or arrays for delivery into an outlet stem which introduces the shot into the magazine opening in an air rifle or the like. The loading device includes an input chamber which communicates through a central passage with an elongated stem which is adapted to project into the magazine of an air rifle. The loading device includes a plurality of chambers which extend radially and axially within the cylindrical wall of the loading device and which have axially staggered channel bottoms. The channel bottoms also are inclined inwardly toward the central chamber and outlet of the stern. A separator or deflector projecting into the input chamber above the upper surfaces of the partitions and having a conical surface directs or deflects the shot into the individual chambers. The chambers will fill with a single file array of shot from the input chamber and spill or release the shot at spaced locations into the central passage which communicates with the outlet stem.

The stem has a diameter slightly larger than the shot so that it will only deliver shot in the single file array through the outlet stem.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following disclosure.

DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view ofa loading device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the loading device in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with parts broken away and in section of the loading device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 taken along line 55 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, FIG. I shows a loading device in accordance with the invention provided with a cylindrical wall 12 which defines an input chamber 14. An outlet stem 16 extends from the wall 12 and may be attached thereto by a threaded connection 18 (FIG. 3). The outlet stem 16 defines a tubular outlet 20 which communicates with the input chamber 14 by a central passage 22. Wall means are provided for defining a plurality of axially extending chambers which provide communication between the input chamber 14 and the passage 22. In the disclosed construction, the means includes an insert or body 24 which has three partitions 26, 28 and 30 which have a cross section in the shape of a circular ring segment. The segments 26, 28 and 30 respectively have faces 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42. The adjacent faces of the segments are spaced to define three channels 44, 46 and 48 which extend longitudinally of the cylindrical wall 12. Each of the channels 44, 46, 48 has a varying longitudinal extent with the channel 46 terminating in an inwardly sloping bottom wall 50. The channel 44 terminates at an inwardly sloping bottom wall 52 spaced toward the end 56 of the tube 16. The channel 48 terminates in an inwardly sloping bottom wall 58 which is below the bottom walls 50 and 52.

The segments 26, 28 and 30 of the insert 24 also have concave and inwardly sloping upper surfaces 60 to direct the shot toward the channels. A deflector plug 64 concentrically located at the end of channel 22 has a conically shaped upwardly extending surface 66 which assists in deflecting the shot into the channels. The plug 64 can be provided with an outwardly extending annular lip or flange 70 which seats on the upper surface 60 of the segments.

In use the shot 74 will move from the input chamber into three vertically extending single file stacks in the channels. The difference in position of the channel bottom walls results in introduction of the shot from the channels at different vertical heights of the cylinder passage 22 thus preventing blocking of the passage as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The stem 16 can be provided with a beveled tip 76 to assist in alignment with an aperture or opening in a rifle magazine. A notch 78 can also be provided at the tip to facilitate loading where a spring plate on a breech magazine must be depressed to'gain entry to the magazine. Thus the inclined edge 80 is pressed against the spring plate and the tip guided into the magazine opening with the notch providing additional clearance for the shot.

What is claimed is:

l. A loading device comprising first wall means for receiving spherical objects and defining an input chamher, a central passage, a discharge passage communicating with said central passage and terminating in a discharge outlet, second wall means defining said central passage for connection with the input chamber, a plurality of axial channels within said wall means extending radially outwardly of said central passage and in communication with said central passage to aid in the transfer of objects to said central passage and providing communication between said input chamber and said discharge passage with said channels separating objects introduced into said input chamber into a plurality of single file arrays, and third wallmeans defining channel bottoms of said channels for directing objects inwardly toward the central passage, said bottoms being axially offset from one another to deliver the obcate with said central passage within said first wall means.

3. The device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said channel bottoms are inclined inwardly toward the centerline of said device and said central passage being in axial alignment with said discharge passage.

4. A device in accordance with claim 2 in which said partitions have downwardly concave surfaces.

5. The device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said partitions have a cross section in the form of circular ring segments.

6. The device in accordance with claim 1 including a separator for directing objects into said channels.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1 including an outlet stem extending from said first wall means to provide said discharge outlet and sized to interfit in a magazine opening of an air rifle.

8. A loading device comprising first wall means for receiving spherical objects and defining an input chamber, a passage in communication with said input cham her and terminating in a discharge outlet, a plurality of axially extending channels within said first wall means and providing communication between said input chamber and said outlet with said channels separating objects introduced into said input chamber into a plurality of single file arrays, and third wall means for directing objects inwardly toward the center of the device and defining channel bottoms for said channels, a central passage connecting the discharge outlet, said bottoms being axially offset to deliver the objects from said channels into said central passage at axially staggered locations, a separator for directing objects into said channels, and said separator projecting above said channels and having a conical surface. 

1. A loading device comprising first wall means for receiving spherical objects and defining an input chamber, a central passage, a discharge passage communicating with said central passage and terminating in a discharge outlet, second wall means defining said central passage for connection with the input chamber, a plurality of axial channels within said wall means extending radially outwardly of said central passage and in communication with said central passage to aid in the transfer of objects to said central passage and providing communication between said input chamber and said discharge passage with said channels separating objects introduced into said input chamber into a plurality of single file arrays, and third wall means defining channel bottoms of said channels for directing objects inwardly toward the central passage, said bottoms being axially offset from one another to deliver the objects from said channels into said discharge outlet at axially staggered locations.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first wall means defines a cylinder and said second wall means defining said channels comprises a cylindrical insert in said cylinder, said insert having a plurality of partitions defining said radially extending channels which communicate with said central passage within said first wall means.
 3. The device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said channel bottoms are inclined inwardly toward the centerline of said device and said central passage being in axial alignment with said discharge passage.
 4. A device in accordance with claim 2 in which said partitions have downwardly concave surfaces.
 5. The device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said partitions have a cross section in the form of circular ring segments.
 6. The device in accordance with claim 1 including a separator for directing objects into said channels.
 7. A device in accordance with claim 1 including an outlet stem extending From said first wall means to provide said discharge outlet and sized to interfit in a magazine opening of an air rifle.
 8. A loading device comprising first wall means for receiving spherical objects and defining an input chamber, a passage in communication with said input chamber and terminating in a discharge outlet, a plurality of axially extending channels within said first wall means and providing communication between said input chamber and said outlet with said channels separating objects introduced into said input chamber into a plurality of single file arrays, and third wall means for directing objects inwardly toward the center of the device and defining channel bottoms for said channels, a central passage connecting the discharge outlet, said bottoms being axially offset to deliver the objects from said channels into said central passage at axially staggered locations, a separator for directing objects into said channels, and said separator projecting above said channels and having a conical surface. 